Chapter 5

• Chapter 5
• "You still need to tell me what was going on earlier, Tati.  We found you crying outside." Sab. Christian was deeply worried. He doesn't like seeing his older sister cry.
• "I can't. Not now, Tian."
• He pursed his lips, he worries alot but he understood. So after he tucked his nephew to bed, he left.
• JACOB REALLY did stay away. And she liked it. He hasn't seen Jacob in over  a month since that incident at the restaurant. If she needed to meet with an executive, Andrew Zobel fills in for Jacob.
• "Jacob can't make it. He is on a tight sched. been working really hard these days. I don't know what he's been up to."
• "It's okay." She smiled at the Vice President. "We can go on with this discussion anyway. Everything he needs to know, you can just relay it to Mr. Shaw.”
• It was always like that. Even if she's in Strike Building three times a week, she never bumped into him. Which was, a very good thing.
• She can't face him after being an emotional weakling last month.
• That was a stupid move.
• Yet she was thankful he never saw Julian. It would ruin her for sure.
• "Attorney? Are you alright?" Andrew asked in concern. It's as if Tatiana's mind was somewhere else and not here.
• "Y-yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry.”
• He nodded in understanding.
• "Have received the invitation? Iyong sa charity ball?" Andrew asked her.
• She nodded. "I haven't opened it yet, assistant ko kasi ang tumanggap but she did tell me about it. It's lying on my desk in the firm."
• "Okay. It's a tradition, Strike has been doing this for years.  Jacob's mother and the coordinators plans it." He informed her. "My very pregnant wife's so excited about it."
• "You're expecting a child?" Tatiana so wanted to tell him about her son, but she stopped herself since Andrew and Jacob are close friends. He might accidentally bring that up to his friend.
• "Yup. She's eight months pregnant." She saw him beaming in pride.
• If he didn't leave her, if he found out she was pregnant, would she see him this happy? Would she ever see his eyes dancing with pride of becoming a father?
• Tatiana would never know since he left her.
• "I'm happy for you. Congratulations, Mr. Zobel."
• "Ah, no need with those formalities. Just call me Andrew." He grinned. "So I'll see you at the ball?"
• When she got home, she opened the gold invitation.
• Atty. Falcon,
• You are invited at Strike Bankings & Industry's 57th annual ball held in Dahaw resort and convention hall, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. 7:00 in the evening.
• Dress code: Black and Gold.
• Palawan.
• She murmured.
• Why does it have to be in Palawan? It's the place she never ever want to come back--- ever again.
• That place was a nightmare to her and a reminder of broken dreams, and a shattered heart.
• She's not coming.
• "WHERE is mom?" Jacob's thunderous voice asked the maids in their mansion. He was fuming mad.
• "He's in the east wing, sir. In the study room.”
• He strode towards the big house, he found her sitting in the swivel chair his father used to own. 
• She stood up when she saw her son.
• "Jacob!  Son, this is a surprise!”
• Jacob placed the invitation on top of her desk.
• "What is this, Ma?"
• "It's for the annual ball---"
• Damn it. "I know! Why the hell did you want it there, ma? What are you trying to do?!" He was yelling at his mother.
• Ingrid Shaw was taken aback with her son's anger.
• "Nothing! What's wrong with it. God, it's been ages, Jake! Is it so wrong to celebrate the annual ball in that island?”
• "Now you stop right there, ma. If you did this for fun, or purposely--- I want this whole fucking thing revenued. There sure wouldn't be any ball if you can't have this altered!"
• "You watch your mouth around me, son. I am still your mother!" It was her time to raise her voice. Jacob didn't bat an eye or blink. His jaw remained clenched.
• "And I am the CEO of Strike Bankings." He said with finality. ”Have this revenued and there won't be any problem."
• "This is madness! You are being irrational about this! Don't tell me you haven't gotten over that woman yet.”
• "Fuck! You stop this nonsense, ma! If you're being insensitive--- just stop this.”
• "I'm sorry but I can't do anything about it. The invitations were all given out. If you're going to sulk about it then don't go.” his mother stubbornly said. Ingrid Shaw would never back down.
• If all invitations were given out, he's sure Tataiana has gotten it as well.
• Of course she's not taking it as bad as he is taking it.
• "One more glass please. Keep it coming." He asked the waiter.
• Why does he have to have a cruel mother? How did his father ever liked someone like her? She was pure evil. He wouldn't even be in a miserable situation if it wasn't for her.
• Palawan.
• He heaved out a sigh.
• He despise that place. It has so, so much memories in it. His firsts happened there. That's where he met the only woman he loved, and it was also the place where everything was taken away from him.
• He shut his eyes.
• "It's not everyday that you call me for a drink." The baritone voice beside him said. "Scotch please, keep it coming."
• It was his brother in law, Jasper.
• "Hey, Jas. I'm glad Miana let you out.” he chuckled.
• "I told her it would be a boys night. I didn't tell her we're getting drunk though." Jasper laughed. "You look bad, Jake. What's up? It's not like you to be drinking in boring bars just like this." His brother in law was more on partying. That's why he knew something was wrong when he called him for a drink. And in a place like this.
• Soft music, silent bar.
• Jacob waited for Jasper's drink to arrive before he spoke.
• "Do you love my sister, Jas?"
• "So much. I can't imagine a life without Miana." Jasper smiled, thinking about his stubborn wife. "Where are you coming from, Jake?"
• "Do you... remember that woman, the one you asked me about last month? The scene that both of you witnessed?"
• He remembers. His wife and him witnesssed how they fought outside that restaurant. They witnessed how Jacob miserably tried to console that woman when he saw her crying, and how Jacob instantly fell silent after that like he was into another world of his own.
• Jasper recalled how his wife laughed at the end of the night Knowing that maybe, her brother's life was about to change because of a woman.
• "Yes. " He also saw the look on Jacob's face when the woman pushed him away.
• He knew what his brother in law's problem was.
• A woman.
• "That was my wife." Jacob confessed. "That was my wife, Jas."
• "What?" His lips parted. His eyes flew directly on Jacob's ring finger. It was real, autenthic. He was wearing it not just for nothing. “Jake? Are you drunk? You're still single, man.”
• Jacob only shook his head.
• Wife
• And here they thought he's gonna be a bachelor for the rest of his life!
• "We got married nine years ago." He smiled at that memory. An old church, no fancy wedding dress, no tux. Just rings, a priest and their vows. "Whirlwind romance, I saw her... And knew it in myself she's gonna be the only woman I'll be capable of loving."
• He was just 19, and he rebelled from everyone. Especially to his parents, he refused to talk to everyone in the Shaw family, including Miana.
• "It was perfect. We were broke yet happy. I earned with my hands, painting... Portet..." He have a very calloused and rough hands, he spent some time doing works before. His father had disowned him. When he left that night, the only money he had was the one in his wallet. He wasn't allowed to bring his car either. His father has confiscated all his cards.
• He used to think that money is the only thing that matters. The sooner you fall inlove, the sooner you realize that it isn't.
• "But you see, I left her. And --- I seriously haven't gotten over her even if it's been so long, Jasper. But she's back, and she's okay and not hurting anymore. It hurts me to see her moved on.” he smiled a little but it wasn't because he was happy.
• "And oh, she's the Strike's corporate lawyer now."
• Why was he telling this to Jasper, anyway? It's because it's too much.
• "You never told us you got married, Jake."
• That woman is beautiful. They looked good together. None of them knew that the beautiful woman was his brother in law's wife.
• Hell, this man is a womanizer. Jasper couldn't sink it in that his brother in law is already married!
• "I never wanted to be a businessman, Jas. I wanted to paint. But look at the burden I had to face just because Miana didn't want anything to do with Strike, and dad had to die so soon." He laughed bitterly, the liquor was starting to kick in.
• “I wish they never found me. Maybe if they hadn't, I'm still with my wife. Maybe I'm happy.” he shook his head.  "They took away my happiness."
• "You never mentioned her to us, Jake. We could have helped. When you came back, you were a total different person with a ring on your hand..." Jacob stopped painting. He studied abroad, too. He also stopped traveling for pleasure. He'd only travel for business trips.
• When he came back, he was a different person. And when his father died, he took over the Strike.
• "Youre still married with her, right? It was a legal marriage?"
• Jacob nodded. It might never have been a fancy wedding, but it was real.
• "Then you should win her back. If you still want her in your life then do something about it. Explain. Make her fall inlove with you again just like how you did it nine years ago, nothing's gonna happen if you sit here and drink.”
• "She doesn't want to listen to me."
• "Well, that's how women are. Maybe she's not yet ready and if ever she never wants to listen, then make her."
• "You know Jake, if there's something I learned about loving your sister, that is, to never give up to people you love. You just have to keep trying your best because if things are really for you, they eventually fall back into right places."
• Jacob nodded.
• "Don't give up. You married each other  because you love each other. Maybe time washed away the love she has, and that's the job you have to do. Make her love you again.”
• Right. Jasper's ritht. He has to do something. He'll definitely not gonna win her back again if she keeps pushing him away. What he has to do, is to pull her close instead.
• "Thanks Jas, for always having my back." He patted Jasper's shoulder.
• "Don't mention it, you're my brothet and I love your sister. She'd never wanna see you like this."
• "One more thing, please don't tell Mia yet. She might not take it well.”
• Jasper nodded.